Department for Business and Trade

Trade Agreements: China

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK–China trade agreement aligns with human rights, labour standards, and environmental protections.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The Government has no plans to negotiate a free trade agreement with China.

Food: Industry

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatplans they have, if any, to introduce financial assistance programmes to aid in the (1) recovery, and (2) sustainability, of food and beverage businesses.

Lord Offord of Garvel: Government recognises the pressures faced by food and drink manufacturing businesses, which account for nearly 20% of UK manufacturing. The Autumn Statement 2022 announced a package of changes to business rates worth £13.6bn over the next 5 years. Government also works with the British Business Bank to help SMEs access finance. For example, the Recovery Loan Scheme helps smaller businesses, including those in the food and beverage sector, access loans and other kinds of finance up to £2 million per business group so they can grow and invest. SMEs can access a range of guidance via the free Business Support Helpline and network of Growth Hubs across England. Finally, the Brexit Pubs Guarantee announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget secures the pledge that pubs will always pay less alcohol duty than supermarkets going forwards.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Occupied Territories

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding (1) the closure of the village of al-Mughayyir for three weeks, and (2) the arrest of 50 of al-Mughayyir’s residents.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not raised this case specifically with the Israeli authorities but we stress to them the damage that their restrictions on movement, access, and trade are doing to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians. We are frustrated by the reports of access restrictions to the village of al-Mughayyir and instances of settler-related violence. All Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace and security. As the occupying power, we urge Israel to fulfil its responsibilities, including ensuring the protection of the civilian population, including from acts of violence by Israeli settlers. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] made this clear most recently in a phone call with the Israeli chargé d'affaires on July 4.

Department of Health and Social Care

Alcoholic Drinks: Minimum Unit Prices

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the evaluation published on 7 June 2022 by Public Health Scotland of Minimum Unit Pricing in Scotland on people who are drinking at harmful levels, which found thatalcohol specific deaths fell by 13.4 per cent and hospitalisations by 4.1 per cent.

Lord Markham: Legislative competence for alcohol pricing policy is devolved. A formal assessment has not been carried out, however we are following developments on alcohol policies in other nations closely to see what works.